Wivenhoe hold their nerve in thrilling finish

It maintained the Essex side’s 100% start to the season while handing out a first defeat to the hosts – but it could easily have gone the other way.

Batting first Woolpit posted 185 for nine in their 50 overs after a stop-start innings. Craig Rutherford had fallen without scoring and skipper Andy Northcote, who averaged 82 last season, was out for just 28.

Dom Crame, who scored a century on the opening day, went for 20 and Woolpit had lost half their team when Ollie Whiteman and Geoff Pilgrim followed cheaply.

Then came the recovery, led by previous captain Damon Large. He scored 57 and received excellent support from Will Parker (38) while Matt Durrell wheeled away with his off-spin to claim four for 45.

Northcote felt the total was about 20 runs below par, and while that was proved to be correct it may have only been two runs short of a winning score!

Billy Godleman, the Essex opening batsman, tried to pull a short delivery from Will Parker and skied it to be well caught by Ollie Whiteman.

His presence in the team is an obvious bonus for Wivenhoe, giving sound advice as well as generally contributing plenty of runs. But removing him for just five was an early boost for Woolpit.

However, Australian Nathan Rabnott, who came in at No. 3, looked every bit as good. Having scored 35 at a run a ball he was caught and bowled by Ian Firth when the delivery stopped on him.

Matt Durrell was on 51 when he was given run out, only to be recalled by the Woolpit players after they admitted the stumps had been broken without the ball. Their sportsmanship was rewarded when Durrell returned as he was caught behind from the next delivery.

Tom Harwood kept Wivenhoe on course and Northcote came from behind the wickets to try his spin bowling. Parker bowled a fine second spell and dismissed Harwood for 49 and a tense finish was ensured.

Parker took four for 35 but Wivenhoe were inching closer to their target until their last pair came together with four needed. Last man Tom Durrell held his nerve to get his team over the line.

“It was a terrific game of cricket,” said Northcote. He said Large won his team’s man-of-the-match award for doing everything well on the day – a crucial innings and proving to be faultless behind the stumps when he took over the gloves.

Two other Essex sides are alongside Wivenhoe with three wins out of three. Frinton bowled Exning out for 166 on their way to a seven-wicket win, with Trevor Moulton (four for 32) and Tom Lawes (three for 43) doing most of the damage.

Mistley are also unbeaten, having survived a very close finish to beat Ipswich by three runs. Kyran Young (63) and Paul Garwood (44) were their top scorers but the unbroken 10th-wicket stand between Stuart Dove and John Manning, which added 17 runs, was to prove just as important.

Joe Rusby (51), Sam Gibson (41), Doug Hondo (26) and Craig Oxborrow (21) kept Ipswich in the hunt and despite the efforst of John Richardson (29 not out) and last man Steve Bell (10 not out) they ended up three runs short.

Mildenhall actually top the table, having played one game more. They saw off Abberton by nine wickets after bowling the visitors out for 95 with an impressive display from Lennox Lwana, Ty Mills and AJ Warraich.

Hugh Walters produced an incredible last over to earn a tie for Long Melford against Ipswich & East Suffolk II in Division Four.

The home side had five players score 20 or more but perhaps felt they should have managed more than 232. IES were then heading for a comfortable win as Tim Debenham completed his century to go into the last over with two runs needed for victory.

But then Walters intervened. He trapped Debenham lbw, and then added two more wickets without conceding a run. The last ball beat the bat, but was fumbled behind the stumps and IES ran a bye to tie the scores on 232 for eight. Walters had bowled a three-wicket maiden.

In the same division Ipswich II were bowled out for 195 to lose by just two runs against Mistley II. They had lost their ninth wicket on 177 and Rob Southall (17) and Alex Phillips (three not out) took them to within touching distance of victory when Southall was run out.

To make matters worse, Ipswich then found out their First XI had also lost to Mistley. Their margin was three runs.

It was a good day for Mildenhall as, for the second Saturday running, all four of their sides won.

The First XI had the easiest afternoon as they won by nine wickets at Abberton. The Seconds chased down a Bury II total of 191 to win by six wickets and the Thirds overhauled Great Bromley’s 230 for four to win by five wickets. And the Fourths were undaunted by a Sudbury III total of 248 for three as Lily Reynolds (71) and Alex Lack (61) both scored their first half-centuries to set up a seven-wicket win.

Mildenhall II are alongside local rivals Worlington with 100% starts in Division Three.

Lakenheath, Hadleigh and Elmstead Grasshoppers have all won three out of three in Division Two, with Elmstead making the biggest total of the day, 331 for five with 144 from Doug Harris.

On Sunday there was plenty to celebrate at Easton as Vicky Mitchell and Catherine Cranmer both scored centuries in the Ladies’ Challenge win over Woolpit.

Marshall Hatchick Two Counties Championship

DIVISION ONE

*Abberton 95 (L Lwana 3 for 14, A Warraich 3 for 27). Mildenhall 97 for 1 (A Reynolds 46no, B Shepperson 40no). Mildenhall (20pts) bt Abberton (0) 9 wkts.

*Coggeshall 185 for 6 (A Stockton 46, R Cross 39no, R Lees 33no, O Blackwell 28, C Silverwood 3 for 50). Haverhill 186 for 6 (L Youngs 53, S Powell 40, A Dellar 24, C Silverwood 22no, W Blackwell 4 for 40). Haverhill (18) bt Coggeshall (6) by 4 wkts.

*Copdock & OIs 298 for 8 (A Nel 68, R Sharpe 59, C Swallow 47, Jas East 46, Jon East 21noJ Riley 4 for 69, C Harris 3 for 56). Maldon 116 (N Bannister 33, C Harris 24, J Druitt 3 for 29). Copdock (20) bt Maldon (5) by 182 runs.

*Exning 166 (M Catley 40, T Catley 37, J Grove 27, T Moulton 4 for 32, T Lawes 3 for 43). Frinton 167 for 3 (M Jones 40no, M Foakes 39, T Moulton 28, Rob Everson 22). Frinton (20) bt Exning (4) by 7 wkts.

Mistley 222 for 9 (K Young 63, P Garwood 44, M Bibby 28, S Bell 4 for 41). *Ipswich 219 for 9 (J Rusby 51, S Gibson 41, J Richardson 29no, D Hondo 26, A Polley 24, C Oxborrow 21, J Manning 3 for 69). Mistley (19) bt Ipswich (9) by 3 runs.

*Woolpit 185 for 9 (D Large 57, W Parker 38, A Northcote 28, D Crame 20, M Durrell 4 for 45). Wivenhoe 188 for 9 (M Durrell 51, T Harwood 49, N Rabnott 35, W Parker 4 for 35). Wivenhoe (19) bt Woolpit (8)by 1 wkt.

DIVISION TWO

*Braintree 205 (J Foyster 52, W Jackson 41, S Hale 28, S Jones 21, J Brotherton 3 for 60). Easton 178 (C Branch 60, T Benham 46, B Stephens 3 for 42). Braintree (20) bt Easton (9) by 27 runs.

Dunmow 176 for 7 (L Swanston 47, O Rooney 31, A Wyganowski 29, J Down 28, R Dowman 3 for 49). *Brightlingsea 177 for 3 (K Rodrigo 103, T Cracknell 54no). Brightlingsea (18) bt Dunmow (5) by 7 wkts.

*East Bergholt 134 (N Philpot 56no, J Tingey 26, D Reynolds 4 for 41, T Milner 3 for 16). Lakenheath 137 for 0 (G Palmer 65no, P Pallant 67no). Lakenheath (20) bt East Bergholt (2) by 10 wkts.

*Elmstead Grasshoppers 331 for 5 (D Harris 144, D Sargeant 68no, D White 50, J Elliott 24). Brockley 125 (S Fisher 28, B Jeffrey 24, I Reed 20). Elmstead (20) bt Brockley (4) by 206 runs.

Woodbridge & OWs 146 (A Oswald 38, B Foreman 34, M Spence 7 for 41). *Hadleigh 150 for 3 (J Davey 44no, M Spence 36, N Ellis 32no). Hadleigh (20) bt Woodbridge (3) by 7 wkts.

*Ipswich & ES 182 (H Hazlewood 73, M Worne 31, J Sambrook 4 for 52, P Allen 3 for 39). Witham 185 for 4 (R Green 64, J Suett 38, C Barton 36, L Facey 20, G Driver 3 for 46). Witham (20) bt IES (6) by 6 wkts.

DIVISION THREE

*Clacton II 162 (S Facey 42, D Fitzpartrick 37, L Kirk 32, M Asghar 21, M Pickles 3 for 52). Coggeshall II 164 for 5 (S Blackwell 46, D Green 28no, B Edwards 24). Coggeshall II (20) bt Clacton II (5) by 5 wkts.

Kelvedon & Feering 220 (J Baker 61, S Warner 46, A Yates 29, P Ahearn 22, A Bell 4 for 36). *Copford 212 for 8 (I Catley 57, G Northover 48no, K Sargeant 34, J King 5 for 48). Kelvedon *19) bt Copford (10) by 8 runs.

*Felixstowe 202 (J Tooley 66, J Lander 47, D Snell 36, A Hopkins 23, J Poulson 4 for 39). Sudbury II 185 for 9 (J Poulson 40, J Phillips 27, C Walters 25, J Tooley 5 for 58). Felixstowe (19) bt Sudbury II (9) by 17 runs.

*Halstead II 167 (S Steel 52, N Dakin 42, S Rippingale 24, P Stone 3 for 26, D Bass 3 for 43). Little Bardfield Village 164 for 2 (D Hymas 69no, D Bas 54no, A Kemp 21, M Welby 20). Bardfield (20) bt Halstead II (4) by 8 wkts.

Bury St Edmunds II 191 for 6 (N Curran 50, A Douglas 45no, J Sturgeon 30, S Cordell 22no, P Thearle 20). *Mildenhall II 195 for 4 (C Baird 62, S Grinling 56, A Trett 44, E Finnis 20). Mildenhall II (18) bt Bury II (6) by 6 wkts.

Stowmarket 196 for 8 (A Hawes 40, D Watling 33, C Sirimanne 26, M Ives 22no, K Holland 20, J Grande 3 for 48, C Estlea 3 for 49). *Worlington 198 for 2 (J Watson 91, G Ford 58no, C Estlea 24). Worlington (19) bt Stowmarket (5) by 8 wkts.

DIVISION FOUR

*Long Melford 232 (S Whitehart 47, S Martin 43, G Boon 31, A Skeggs 29, H Walters 27, N Pryke 4 for 59). Ipswich & East Suffolk 232 for 8 (T Debenham 101, S Gayfer 37, J Hamblin 35, D Bloomfield 25, H Walters 4 for 26, J Cole 3 for 73). Long Melford (14) tied with IES II (15).

*Mistley II 197 for 7 (N Cooper 59, S Everett 43, D Goff 24, J Jackson 20no, A Phillips 4 for 39). Ipswich II 195 (D Smith 31, K Wright 25, I Knight 25, J Scott 24, D Goff 4 for 61). Mistley (20) bt Ipswich II (7) by 2 runs.

Copdock & OIs II 200 (J Green 36, G Underwood 35, K Banham 26, A Baker 21, S Gauke 20). *Needham Market 201 for 8 (J Matthews 52, S Mortimer 42, R Hill 39). Needham Market (20) bt Copdock II (9) by 2 wkts.

*St. Margarets 205 for 8 (C Mutton 80no, P Allen 36, I Booth 22, J Todd 20, B Readman 4 for 74). Exning II 180 for 9 (B Atkinson 46, P Woods 29, S Readman 29, N Howlett 4 for 53, P Denness 3 for 43). St Margarets (19) bt Exning II (8) by 25 runs.

*Yoxford 295 for 7 (D Cialini 80, A Cook 67, J Percival 60, D Green 3 for 59). Hadleigh II 203 (J Rix 53no, D Mann 31, D Green 24, T Ryder 24). Yoxford (20) bt Hadleigh II (8) by 92 runs.

Woolpit II 129. *Wivenhoe II 131 for 2. Wivenhoe II (20) bt Woolpit II (3) by 8 wkts.

DIVISION FIVE

*Bury St Edmunds III 265 for 8 (B Bellwood 77, A Green 65, K Dobson 57no, J Nichol 34, L Homewood 5 for 81, J Barry 3 for 60). Brightlingsea II 212 (J Barry 89, R Hicks 33, M Linley 27, C Holyman 23, J Nichol 3 for 30, T Vivek 3 for 51). Bury III (20) bt Brightlingsea II (9) by 53 runs.

*Frinton II 288 for 5 (P Williams 92no, B Clements 83, J Baker 54no, R Stockdale 30). Boxted 198 (M Pearce 56, J Wilson 48, C Coe 30, R Pickford 25, J Baker 5 for 44, N Patel 3 for 16). Frinton II (20) bt Boxted (6) by 90 runs.

*Great Bromley 230 for 4 (C Perrin 113no, R Lawson 43, L Perrin 27). Mildenhall III 233 for 5 (J Giffin 74, S Hunt 51, J Taylor 27, M Saunders 26, M Wareing 3 for 49). Mildenhall III (17) bt Gt Bromley (7) by 5 wkts.

*Kelvedon & Feering II 269 for 7 (N Brice 81, T Potter 45, M Bridger 44, R Burt 34, D Woodrow 4 for 69). Abberton II 236 for 9 (A Trussler 71no, M Johnson 43, extras 50, J King 5 for 50). Kelvedon II (19) bt Abberton II (8) by 33 runs.

*Harwich & Dovercourt 163 for 9 (G Moors 49, S Good 47, J Dobinson 4 for 27, M Southwell 3 for 42). Maldon II 115 (M Southwell 27, C Punchard 21, S Good 5 for 30, C Semple 4 for 16). Harwich (20) bt Maldon II (6) by 48 runs.

*Witham II 257 for 4 (C Spence 116, J Trigg 114). Earls Colne 163 for 9 (D Grice 75, D Brooker 24). Witham II (19) bt Earls Colne (5) by 94 runs.

DIVISION SIX

Braintree II 164 for 9 (R Mehboob 52no, J Chalk 21, S Ketteridge 5 for 48). *Haverhill II 165 for 3 (S Hartshorn 69, B Moran 40, L Savage 31no). Haverhill II (19) bt Braintree II (4) by 7 wkts.

Felixstowe Corinthians 216 for 6 (C Monteith 108, A Harrison 57, J Jacobs 23no, G Denny 3 for 22, A Southall 3 for 56). *Ipswich III 217 for 6 (S Bumphrey 85, G Denny 64, J Sawyer 3 for 62). Ipswich III (18) bt Felixstowe Corinthians (8) by 4 wkts.

Elmstead Grasshoppers II 185 for 9 (F Eadie 65, A Smith 30no, R Sparrow 27J Bonner 3 for 54). *Kesgrave 188 for 3 (B Manning 63no, D Gallant 41, S Whitney 25no, I Qureshi 25). Kesgrave (19) bt Elmstead II (5) by 7 wkts.

Copford II 170 (M Tracey 78, P Gould 29, M Utting 6 for 38). *Melton St. Audrys 173 for 8 (S Draper 41, A Baker 35, S Marks 27, M Grubb 23no). Melton (20) bt Copford II (7) by 2 wkts.

*Tuddenham 148 (K Pryke 35, S Graham 27. Nacton 122 (C Rush 22, Nurse 7 for 34). Tuddenham (20) bt Nacton (5) by 26 runs.

DIVISION SEVEN

*Halstead III 205 for 5 (B Coleman 79, A Elsbury 64, A McBride 23, B Barnbrook 3 for 61). Long Melford II 208 for 4 (R Black 86, M Underwood 71, B Wright 22no). Long Melford II (17) bt Halstead III (7) by 6 wkts.

*Maldon III 196 for 9 (S Gozzett 62, S Bulger 33, L Gardner 4 for 61, A Woodward 3 for 32). St Margarets II 199 for 2 (P White 110, K Roche 50). St Margarets II (19) bt Maldon III (5) by 8 wkts.

Sudbury III 248 for 3 (T Beaumont 138no, C Cook 41no). *Mildenhall IV 249 for 3 (L Reynolds 71, A Lack 61, P Thurston 33, A King 21no). Mildenhall IV (16) bt Sudbury II (6) by 7 wkts.

Ipswich IV 213 for 9 (C Johnson 66, R Fairbanks 59, A Bonfield 26, D Aldous 4 for 60, A Holding 3 for 34). *Stowmarket II 214 for 4 (R Newman 62, H Griffiths 58no, A Holding 25). Stowmarket II (19) bt Ipswich IV (7) by 6 wkts.

DIVISION EIGHT

Kelvedon & Feering III 185 (A Lavender 75, J Boggis 3 for 16). *Easton II 167 (J Keeble 45, Rich Fernley 36, E Barker 34, G Bellamy 5 for 29, S Bonvini 3 for 13). Kelvedon III (20) bt Easton II (8) by 18 runs.

*Eye & District 180. Witham III 116. Eye (20) bt Witham III (6) by 64 runs.

DBSL 174 for 7 (J Pizey 43, B Karkaria 37, R Wythe 25, S Guiezelar 3 for 58). *Harwich & Dovercourt II 178 for 0 (J Newell 112no, D Guiezelar 55no). Harwich II (18) bt DBSL (3) by 10 wkts.

*Tendring 216 for 9 (I Wilks 42, S Starling 41, J Bowden 30). St Osyth 218 for 5. St Osyth (19) bt Tendring (7) by 5 wkts.

Coggeshall III (20) bt *Brockley II (4) scores not received.

DIVISION NINE

*Braintree III 91 (A Hall 25, N Ukwatte 3 for 13). Eight Ash Green 92 for 1 (W Shearman 43no, S Nunn 27). EAG (20) bt Braintree III (1) by 9 wkts.

*Elveden 173 (S Flack 59, C Harrington 23, N Jenkins 4 for 34, A Smith 3 for 30). Woodbridge & OWs II 169 (W Nichols 73, P McCart 53no, S Flack 4 for 55). Elveden (20) bt Woodbridge II (8) by 4 runs.

Bury St Edmunds IV 110. *Sudbourne Hall 114 for 2. Sudbourne Hall (20) bt Bury St. Edmunds IV (2) by 8 wkts.

Worlington II 204 for 9 (M Bacon 55, A Watson 43no, I Roberts 22, S Lister 21). *West Bergholt 109 (A Rippingale 29, J Peachey 4 for 18, B Cole 4 for 26). Worlington II (20) bt West Bergholt (5) by 95 runs.

Nowton 213 for 9 (S Danson 58, H Desch 26, R Hudson-Hill 20, J Rutter 4 for 29, C Storrar 3 for 51). *West Mersea 215 for 3 (L Conway 82no, J Rutter 80no, D Taylor 39). West Mersea (19) bt Nowton (6) by 7 wkts.

DIVISION C

Clacton 245 for 5 (I Vine 123no, B Pitts 80, T Pickles 5 for 41). Coggeshall 168 (A Peters 63, A Young 3 for 14). Clacton (20) bt Coggeshall (5) by 77 runs.

*Frinton 277 for 7 (J Wedge 95, T Sinclair 53, P Patel 52 ret, R Stockdale 22, B Hardy 6 for 52). Brightlingsea 186 for 7 (C Holyman 63, B Hardy 51, R Goodwin 22, G Campbell 20). Frinton (18) bt Brightlingsea (7) by 91 runs.

*Kelvedon & Feering 241 for 9 (L Scott 81, O Parsons 34, T Potter 24, P Lightbown 24, F Warner 20). Wivenhoe 105 (F Murtaza 36, J Wiseman 24, E Harwood 22, O Parsons 5 for 15). Kelvedon (20) bt Wivenhoe (5) by 136 runs.

Mistley (20) received a walkover from Copdock & OIs (0).

LADIES’ CHALLENGE

*Battisford 42. Cambridge NCI 44 for 3. Cambridge (20) bt Battisford (1) by 7 wkts.

*Easton 284 for 2 (V Mitchell 109no, C Cranmer 102). Woolpit 100 (A Parker 24). Easton (20) bt Woolpit (4) by 184 runs.

Ipswich 160 for 5 (C Young 39, S Ford 38no, R Woodward 33). *Woodbridge & OWs 142 for 6 (H Graham 31, T Westley 31, C Young 4 for 51). Ipswich (18) bt Woodbridge (7) by 18 runs.

* Denotes home team.